Lionel Messi poses with goats for photoshoot

Lionel Messi has posed with goats for a photoshoot , the shoot is a nod towards the five-time FIFA World Player of the Year’s common label as the GOAT of football, or Greatest Of All Time.

Messi, has regularly been called the GOAT by fans and pundits alike, with those on social media often using a goat emoji alongside his name.

New York-based magazine Paper, thus took this theme and ran with it, with the Argentinian seen with a series of goats, ranging from a large horned animal with his boots around its neck to a small kid that he held in his arms.

Paper magazine writes that Messi acclimatised quickly to the animals, “warmly” approaching them, “laughing and playing with one of the babies”.

“I don’t consider myself the best, I think I am just another player, On the field, we are all the same when the game begins.” – The #GOAT, @leomessi ? #PAPERGetsMessi #linkinbio

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He wrote

“I am a big fan of animals,” the Barcelona forward said in the interview. “I grew up with them and they have taught me many things.

“Now we have our dog Hulk who really is part of the family, we always include him. Our children learn so much from Hulk.”

 

“Argentines do everything we can to achieve what we want.” — @LeoMessi. Get to know the #GOAT now on papermag.com #PAPERGetsMessi

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The magazine said the photoshoot, taken by Carles Carabi, was created at a farm and educational centre in Barcelona, La Granja Natura, with staff and vets on hand to ensure no harm was caused to them.

The Greatest of All Time graces our Sports issue cover! We caught up with the one and only @LeoMessi right in time for the #WorldCup! Get to know the soccer superhuman who holds the Guinness World Record for most goals scored in a season and has also led @fcbarcelona to 32 trophies! Head to papermag.com for more. #PAPERGetsMessi #GOAT?#linkinbio #heretocreate Photographer: @carlescarabi Writer: @gemma.soler /// ¡The Greatest of All Time honra nuestra portada de edición deportiva! ¡Nos encontramos con el único @LeoMessi justo a tiempo para el #WorldCup! ¡Conoce al superhombre del fútbol que posee el récord mundial Guinness por la mayor cantidad de goles anotados en una temporada y también ha llevado a @fcbarcelona a 32 trofeos! Dirígete a papermag.com para obtener más información.

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Messi began his preparations for the World Cup in Russia with a hat-trick against Haiti in Argentina’s warm-up game last week, before the team headed to Barcelona for a training camp.

Argentina’s final warm-up match is against Israel on Saturday.